hit m w/ your best goat advice ~ please :)

[harvestgirl]

we have 2 new goats (alpines) ~ also if you can see my other post about the one who is regurgitating, that would be great.

these girls came from living in a garage/pen area to now being out on a wooded hillside.

these are the first goats we have ever owned, so tell me the do's & don'ts!

thanks so much!

[LoneStrChic23]

First, read this:

http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/4H/meat...atgoatfs14.htm

Next, if they were mine I would deworm them ASAP!! All new additions here are dewormed with moxidectin the moment they unload. You can buy a tube of Quest Horse Gel. Empty the tube, mix well to ensure the active ingredient is throughly distributed. Dose is 1cc per 100lbs. I wouldn't bother with Safeguard, it's usually ineffective in most areas.

How old are they?

If they are not in milk or pregnant, I would put out alfalfa pellets (I like Standlee Brand from TSC) & make sure they have some grass hay of some sort (I use coastal).....If they are in good body conditiom, they will be fine on just alfalfa, browse & grass hay...no need to worry about grain.

Get them a good loose mineral, not a mineral block. I use the cattle mineral Right Now Onyx made by Cargill.......Others can chime in with other mineral reccomendations. I mix baking soda in my mineral & leave it out free choice along with the alfalfa & hay.

Check their feet...how do they look? If you are not sure, post pictures of them for opinions. Odds are good they need a trim.

There's lots more, but this will get you started & folks will chime in with other info...

Do post pics if you can & congrats on your new goats.... I love my Alpines

[harvestgirl]

thanks you! can you read below my other post " new goat help?"

thanks!!

[LoneStrChic23]

If you don't have a scale, heres a chart to help you get a weight on your goats to determine deworming dosage:

http://www.fiascofarm.com/goats/weight-chart.htm

To me, parasite management & control is a top, top priority which is why I advise deworming ASAP.

Once you get than taken care of, we can dive into things like copper bolusing

Good parasite mamagement, proper feeding, hoof care & offering correct minerals (goat minerals typically do not have enough copper, hence the reason I use a cattle mineral) go such a long way in preventing so much heart ache & problems.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Then, read all this stuff here:

http://fiascofarm.com/goats/index.htm

[Minelson]

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

Then, read all this stuff here:

http://fiascofarm.com/goats/index.htm

Ditto!

Congrats on the new goats Get some pictures posted please

[CaliannG]

Yes, you are a new goat person with new goats. How can we possibly advise you properly without pictures of them?

Also, we need pictures of their tails, and tell us, are their coats smooth and silky, or rough and course. Odd are, you will need to copper bolus also.

[HappyFarmer]

Switch them slowly to the wooded area. Check for toxic brush. Provide adequate shelter/protection. Vaccinate for CD/T, pneumonia & any diseases that are a threat to your specific area. Know their normal personalities, and most importantly get the basics for meds.

HF

[gila_dog]

Make sure they are not vulnerable to neighborhood dogs. Dogs are a goat's worst enemy. Wild predators can be a problem too, but my main concern would be dogs.